How Much Gravel for a Driveway?
FormulaVolume (cu yd) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) ÷ 324
Calculate driveway gravel by multiplying length by width in feet, then by depth in feet. Convert depth from inches to feet by dividing by 12. Then divide by 27 for cubic yards. Driveways typically need 3 to 6 inches of gravel depending on subgrade and vehicle load.
Recommended Depths by Driveway Type
- Light passenger vehicles only — 3 to 4 inches of compacted base gravel. Minimum for a stable driveway in good subgrade conditions.
- Mixed traffic (cars + occasional truck/delivery) — 4 to 6 inches total. Consider a 4-inch base layer of road base or crusher run, topped with 2 inches of finish gravel.
- Heavy vehicles or poor subgrade — 6 to 8 inches, potentially with geotextile fabric beneath to prevent gravel from sinking into soft ground.
Best Gravel Types for Driveways
- Crusher run / crush-and-run — Mixed sizes including fines. Compacts well, locks together. Best for base layers and high-traffic driveways.
- 3/4-inch crushed stone — Angular edges grip each other and drain well. The most common driveway surface material.
- Pea gravel — Smooth, rounded stones. Easy to walk on, good drainage. Tends to shift and scatter under vehicle tires — better for decorative paths than main driveways.
- Road base / Class II base rock — Dense-grade aggregate, compacts firm. Standard material for commercial driveways and high-traffic residential.
Driveway Coverage Reference
- 100 sq ft at 3 inches — about 0.9 cubic yards
- 100 sq ft at 4 inches — about 1.2 cubic yards
- 500 sq ft at 4 inches — about 6.2 cubic yards — a standard 2-car driveway
- 1,000 sq ft at 4 inches — about 12.3 cubic yards — a long single driveway